When West 琉璃神社 Fire Chief Jason Brolund watched footage of fire burning through Fort McMurray, he was filled with emotion.

鈥淓arlier in the week it induced a lot of anxiety,鈥� said Brolund .

鈥淥ur people watched it with a feeling of 鈥榳e want to be there and we want to help.鈥欌��

They all know all too well, however, they need to be here.

鈥淲e see it and think it鈥檚 unbelievable, but it shouldn鈥檛 be,鈥� said Brolund.

鈥淚t has happened here on a smaller scale and it can happen again. We鈥檙e way ahead of where we would normally be. It鈥檚 been 31 C and it鈥檚 only early May.鈥�

Every drop of rain that鈥檚 fallen can help, but not for long. A hot day can quickly dry out the forest floor.

鈥淏ut we鈥檙e trained, our equipment is in good shape and we鈥檙e ready for what summer may bring,鈥� he said.

And, if fire strikes, his aim is to get to it fast.

鈥淲e hope we can get to fires when they鈥檙e small and that people can get prepared and do things in their neighbourhood to get ready,鈥� he said.

Driving home the point that fire prevention is key is news that the Kamloops Fire Centre issued a fire ban to slow down the spread of fires.

From April 1 to May 11, B.C. Wildfire Service crews responded to 36 wildfires in the Kamloops Fire Centre.

Many of these wildfires were the result of poorly planned open burning.

Effective as of noon May 15, category 2 and 3 open fires will be prohibited throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre, which includes the Central Okanagan,  to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect the public.

This prohibition will remain in effect until Oct. 15,  or until further notice.

Specifically, prohibited activities will include:

鈥� The burning of any waste, slash or other materials (piled or unpiled) larger than one-half metre by one-half metre.

鈥� The burning of more than two open fires of any size at the same time.

鈥� Stubble or grass fires of any size over any area.

鈥� The use of fireworks, sky lanterns or burning barrels of any size or description.

A poster explaining the different categories of open burning is available online at http://bit.ly/1GlhE9l.

A map of the affected open fire restriction areas is also available at http://bit.ly/23FpWix.

This prohibition does not ban campfires that are a half-metre high by a half-metre wide (or smaller) and does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes.

This prohibition covers all B.C. parks, Crown lands and private lands, but it does not apply within the boundaries of a local government that has forest fire protection bylaws in place and is serviced by a fire department.

Before lighting any fire, people should check with local authorities to see if any other burning bylaws or restrictions are in effect.

Always check the venting conditions before conducting an open burn. If venting conditions are rated 鈥減oor鈥� or 鈥渇air,鈥� open burning is restricted.

The venting index can be found at www.bcairquality.ca/readings/ventilation-index.html.

Anyone found in contravention of an open burning prohibition may be issued a violation ticket for $1,150, required to pay an administrative penalty of $10,000 or, if convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail.

If the contravention causes or  contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay  all firefighting and associated costs.

If you see flames or smoke, call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or dial *5555 on your cellphone to report it.

For the latest information on wildfire activity, conditions and  prohibitions, visit the B.C. Wildfire Service website bcwildfire.ca.